Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Jets - Rein ne va Plus
 | This final schedule studio set from Los Jets may just be the coolest of their modern works. Superb playing, and some very good arrangements and sound. |
Picks: Pipeline, Northern Highlands, Raunchy, Midnight Wind, Black Horse, Mistic Wine, Calcutta
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a fine choice to open the final studio set from Los Jets, and it's perhaps the surfiest thing they've ever recorded. The Chantays' "Pipeline" is very well arranged, with very well crafted rewrites of some of the signature lines, and a break that reminds me of The Neon Spores in some ways. Whammy chords and echo. I like this a lot. It shows not only reverence for the original, but the variant guitar lines are so well crafted as to make it almost sound like they wrote it. Very modern and cool!
Rock (Instrumental)
Opening with cool Scottish drums, and carried primarily on an echoed lead guitar, "Northern Highlands" employs a bagpipe-like drone and a "louder than The Shadows" sound. It's a nicely arranged track.
Rock (Instrumental)
Bill Justis' classic "Raunchy" is transformed into guitar and piano. It's spunky and fastish, with a spirited sound that's infectious. This is a nicely updated cover, especially the piano.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Midnight Wind" moves easily through an exotic/late night lounge mood. Its melody is carried on a very cool, soft lead guitar. It's romantic and a bit sad. Mighty nice!
Rock (Instrumental)
"If You Leave Me Now" is an original arrangement of this top forty hit, with harmonica on lead against an easy backtrack. This is simply pretty, maybe even a bit haunting.
Rock (Instrumental)
Rhythmically interesting, "Black Horse" is played on six string bass for a Jet Harris and Tony Meehan influence, except in the breaks. The contrasts work really well. Friendly and very fun.
Rock (Instrumental)
Heavily echoed guitars boogie their way through a track that's nothing at all if not fun! Very rootsy, but also pretty gutsy!
Rock (Instrumental)
Lovely and moody, mysterious in an almost island in the fog kind of way, and on the exotica side, "Mistic Wine" floes really well, and soothes. You have to want not to like this to miss its enjoyable flow. Very cool percussion evolves as the song progresses.
Rock (Instrumental)
Organ and piano with bass, fluid jazzy guitar, and a gentle feeling emanating from the gentle guitar work. Slightly reverbed harmonica and an easy pace crate a moody scene.
Rock (Instrumental)
Excellent percussion and a bouncy backtrack support this classic song played on very smooth guitar. The chemistry in the track is a big part of its appeal. I like this one!